The fire danger in higher elevations on the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger districts are moderate.

LNF spokeswoman Loretta Benavidez said a combination of low moisture, persistent drought, winds and warm weather promoted officials to elevate the Guadalupe fire danger to high and the other districts to moderate.

The fire danger rating helps describe the general conditions over an extended area.

The high rating indicates that all fine fuels, such as grass, can ignite easily and fires can start quickly from most causes, Benavidez said.

She said unattended campfires are likely to escape.

Benavidez said fires can also spread rapidly, spot over short distances and high-intensity burning may develop on slopes or in fine-fuels concentrations.

She said fires may become large and fire control difficult unless attacked successfully while small.

A fire danger rating of moderate indicates that fire can start from accidental causes, but the number of stats are generally low, Benavidez said.

She said fires in open, cured grasslands will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days while timber fires spread at slow to moderate speed.

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The average fire is of moderate intensity, but heavy accumulations of fuels will burn hot.

For more information about the Lincoln National Forest, contact them at 434-7200 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday or go online at http://fs.usda.gov/lincoln or follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LincolnUSForest

Anyone visiting the Lincoln during the Easter weekend need to follow these safety tips:

Make sure all campfires are dead out.

Spark arrestors are required on chainsaws and off-road vehicles.

If you smoke, do so in areas that are clear of vegetation and don't toss cigarettes out.